Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-07
-sTAUNToN SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERT

have here now 632; Of this number only 20 can
be regarded as probably durable; 400 are here
whose disease Is nae6; atres.eo IN las cou,Is
prevent the downhiil tendency by daily care
and attention. OF the remainder GID. some
have reached the last stage OF mental decline.
and the others are rapidly approaching their
hopeless and incuraDle end. The result in ),
| very few years is easily f,reseen. We will be
| a closed Institution filled up-none to cure,
and only able to receive when vacancies are
caused by death or discharge"
The following feature In social intercoure at
the Asylum is copied from the report
| "The cardinal rule has been established a.
this asylum that. as far as we can possibly do
| so, all eat together officers, attendants, en-
ployees, male and female patlents-in the same
dining room, at the same table, of the same
food. The seven officers, thirty-eight attend
ants and forty male and thirty female patients
are in this room. The employees and the male
patients who daily work with them have a
| table together in another dining room; near
| twenty patients and the same number OF EN-.
| are arranged to suit their going out to their
daily avocstions. 1t Is found that this associa-
tion benefits ali, The patien ts are under moral
restraint, exercising their wll-power to do and
appear at their best. They keep up their old
and many learn their table manners. The Of
| dcers and attendants can observe them when
they are OF their guard, thus giving valuable
insight, and finally the character and cooking
| OF the food Is kept up TO the highest standard,
for the officers do not hesitate to complain Il 1,
were possible in these old builutDgs-nOt built
according to our modern ideas-we would have
| as lew Qln10g rooms as possible. Instead OF
having as now fifteen. they would be consoiid
ated into six. The associated plan ofeating to.
gether is in every way highly v liable moral
agency If not carried to an extreme. 1t would
be as Impossible to ha all classes together a.
1t would be to have all of b tn sexes together"
This review of the report passes over many
portions of general interest till the feature OF
amusements is reached from which the follow
Ing is extracted
This greatly needed place o. resort has filled
want long felt mere, and will. as long as the
institution stands. be great help towards cure
and restoration. Every morning and evening &,
from October until June. every ward is requi1-
ed to brins to the hall patients who can posi-.
bly, be benefited thereby. In the long winter
dtysLhe ladies take exercise and here smnse
themselves. In this way most of them gel
away from the close and crowded corridor OF
the buildings, and the attrttion and frictio'
Incident to a crowded asylum Is Thus in
measure remedled, the wards are aired and
ventilated during their absence. and are rem
dered fresh and pleasant on theii return. We
found last winter and s,rtng thai the genera
health was greatly beue1ted thereby. All en-
10y the change. Two OF cur male patients per
form every morning on the violin aud plano
for their amusement Most of their daily work
Repairing. Knitting, and making of clothing
is done In this light, airy, and wel-ventilat-
ed apartment, holding in comfort l75 ladies.
cards, and bagatelIe. Two nights In the week
theyldahce from 1870 to O'Clock The walls
are tastefully decorated with artificial flowers
hung in piacques or on brackets all done by
and in our arr class, which meets twice every
week. conducted by Mrs. Hammond who, with
un yearied care and Interest. has, with only Is
patients. accomplished during thu past winter
and spring those beautiful ornaments which
are daily inspected and enjoyed by all the In
mates F"
Table No. 10 gives the employment of the pa
tients of both sexes who are capable of engag-
ing in such exercises. such as on the farm, in
the garden, greenhouse, stables, laundry,
kitchen. bakery, wood-house, shoe shop, sew
ing, dining room, knitting, &c.